Motion transfer mechanism

ABSTRACT

A motion transfer mechanism suitable for use in a data card punch. A flexible interposer has a free end, which may naturally occupy one of two positions, one in line with a punch die and the other out of line with the punch or die. A selectively operable electromagnet causes the flexible interposer to become rigid against a bail to permit punching. A second magnet attracts the interposer away from the bail when punching is not desired. To reduce friction between the interposer and the elements associated therewith, all are coupled to and move with the bail.

United States Patent Digilio 1541 MOTION TRANSFER MECHANISM [72] inventor: Frank Anthony Digilio, Medfield, Mass. [73] Assignee: RCA Corporation [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 889,239

[52] US. CL ..234/l15 [51] Int. Cl. ...G06k l/05 [58] Field ofSearch ..234/115 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,412,932 11/1968 Masterson et a1 ..234/l15 3,411,709 11/1968 Masterson ..234/1 15 3,279,690 10/1966 Masterson ..234/1 15 [15] 3,655,126 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 3,539,097 11/1970 Bakeret a1 ..234/l15 Primary Examiner'-James M. Meister Attorney-H. Christofi'ersen [57] ABSTRACT A motion transfer mechanism suitable for use in a data card punch. A flexible interposer has a free end, which may naturally occupy one of two positions, one in line with a punch die and the other out of line with the punch or die. A selectively operable electromagnet causes the flexible interposer to become rigid against a bail to permit punching. A second magnet attracts the interposer away from the bail when punching is not desired. To reduce friction between the interposer and the elements associated therewith, all are coupled to and move with the bail.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,126

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN'IOR.

F i. 3. Fr ank A. Digz'lio ATTORNFY Patented April 11, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Frank A. Digilio ATTORNEY MOTION TRANSFER MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the data processing field there is a continuing need for input-output equipment such as high speed card punches capable of operating at every increasing speeds, and with increased reliability.

sociated hardware are required. Extensive maintenance of such a system still resulted in poor reliability. Then it was decided that an improvement could be had by punching one row or column at a time. This substantially reduced the hardware required but increased the speed at which the punch mechanism had to operate by a factor of 12 or 80, depending whether a column at a time or a row at a time punching was employed.

One such method and the method employed in the apparatus of the present invention is to use a number of flexible interposers, one for each punch. An early embodiment of such a mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,355 Zimmerman in FIG. 1. There, a flexible interposer 10 which is made of magnetic material is positioned in motion transmitting relationship between a motion inducing device, rotating cam 15, and a punch element 18. When punching is desired, power is applied to magnet 55 to attract and maintain the interposer l rigid against non-magnetic surface 29. Motion then may be transmitted via the rigid interposer to the punch 18. When no punching is desired, magnet 55 is not energized and the interposer buckles as shown in phantom, in response to the rotation of member 15, so no motion is transmitted to the punch.

The mechanism described above has at least two operating deficiencies. First, it must be operated relatively slowly to provide sufficient time for the interposer to buckle when punching is not desired. It is found, in practice, that when the speed is increased to greater than some given value, unwanted punching does occur. The second operating deficiency is wear of the parts. When interposer is rigid and in surface-to-surface contact with member 29, the friction between the reciprocating interposer and the stationary surface 29 results in relatively rapid wear.

Another approach is illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 3,279,690, 3,41 1,709 to E. Masterson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,932 to E. Masterson et al. The Masterson mechanism can best be seen in FIG. 2 of US. Pat. No. 3,412,932, which shows a mechanism for punching two card positions. As in the Zimmerman mechanism, a flexible interposer 31 transmits mo tion from a drive means (not shown but which would be located at the top of the figure) to punch P-l. Unlike the Zimmerman apparatus, all element except the punch which the interposer will contact, move with the interposer, thus eliminating the friction problem. The normal shape and resilience of the interposer is such that in the absence of any magnetic field, it assumes a position against the rigid, slightly curved, guide member 5 (see also FIG. 5, upper right), the curved guide member 5 providing the stiffness needed for the interposer. When no punching is desired, a permanent magnet 23 is conjunction with pole pieces 27 and 29 attracts the free end of the interposer toward the guide member 1 (see FIG. 5 upper left) and thus out of alignment with punch P-l. When punching is desired, electromagnets 27-31 and 29-31 are energized. The flux from an electromagnet is in a direction opposite to that produced by the permanent magnet and of a magnitude to cause the net magnetic field present to be reduced to a very low level, sufficiently low to allow the corresponding interposer to spring toward guide member 5.

The mechanism described above has at least three problems. First, it is found, in practice, that manufacture of the guide 5 is very critical. As described in the specification, it must be made very flat so it will assume the curved'shape shown when installed in the mechanism. Second, since the interposer is made rigid, not by magnetic attraction against a stiff member, but by the curved shape it assumes, it must be relatively more stiff than the interposer of the Zimmerman mechanism. Therefore, when punching is not desired, the permanent magnet must overcome the tendency of the interposer to reset against the guide 5. Since the interposer is relatively stiff, a relatively longer time is required for the free end to move out of alignment with the punch. This results in a somewhat slowed punch frequency. Finally, the relative strengths of the permanent magnet and electromagnet are critical. The electromagnet must have a field strength approximately equal to that of the permanent magnet. Therefore, Masterson has provided a flux shunt 25 to limit the effect of the permanent magnet to the strength of the electromagnet. This is extra hardware and more importantly, requires a time and dollar consuming extra adjustment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highspeed, low-cost punch mechanism having the advantages but not the deficiencies of the mechanism discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A motion transfer mechanism employing a relatively flexible motion transfer member and a cooperating relatively stiff member. The flexible member, at one end, is coupled to the stiff member and may have a natural tendency at the free end to occupy a position spaced from surface to surface contact with the stiff member. A stimulus responsive means causes the flexible member to become rigid in surface-to-surface contact with the stiff member, whereby motion can be transmitted to a load which is positioned to be engaged by the free end of the flexible member only when the latter is in contact with the stiff member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING I showing the interposers in punching and non-punching positions; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of a circuit to apply power alternately to one of two electroma'gnets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a drive means, such as motor 12, is secured to the base 10. The motor-drives the shaft 14 via a pulley 17 connected to the motor shaft 61, a pulley 18 fixed to the driven shaft 14, and a belt 16 coupling the two pulleys. The shaft 14 is formed with an eccentric portion 15 located in front of the pulley. The eccentric portion 15 is rotatably mounted by ball bearings within a housing 19 so that when the shaft is driven, the housing is moved, also in eccentric fashion. This movement includes a component in the direction of arrows 62 in FIG. 2. A flexure element 22 is secured to the upper portion of the housing via the clamping arrangement A relatively stiff bail 24 is secured at one end to the free end of flexure 22. The bail is attached to two pairs of flexures 26a, 26b and 26c, 26d, located one pair at each side of the bail. The opposite ends of the flexures are attached to a bracket 27 which is secured to support wall 11. With this arrangement, rotary motion of eccentric shaft 14 is translated into substantially vertical reciprocating motion of bail 24 and other components attached thereto as will be described shortly.

A plurality of flexible members such as flexure interposers 28a-c are secured at one end by screws 65 and plate 66 to the lower end portions of bail 24, and are free at their opposite end. It is to be understood that while only three flexible members are shown, in practice there is one flexible member for each punch position. That is, in the case of a card having 80 rows and 12 columns, if row-by-row punching is desired, there are eighty flexures 28, and if column-by-column punching is desired, there are twelve fiexures 28. The interposers are made out of highly resilient magnetic materials such as stamped blue spring stock. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the flexure interposers may be made out of a single piece of material which is slotted over the substantial portion of its length to form the individual interposers.

As is somewhat conventional in the art, punches 29a, b and c are aligned in prescribed lateral positions by guiding bores in a die assembly 30. The latter comprises guide plates 31 and 32 and die 33. Die 33, which is formed with openings therein, one of which is shown at 67, is located above a unit record card 100. During a punching operation the punches which are actuated, pass through the card and into the corresponding openings 67 to form the rectangular (or circular) holes in the card. The punches are positioned to be engaged by the free ends of the respective flexures (interposers) 28a, b and c when the latter are in their operative positions. The punches are normally retained in the down or rest position when not selected, by retainer means such as the spring steel fingers 34a, b and c which engage slots in the respective punches.

A stripper assembly 35 is secured to the upper end of bail 24. The horizontal positions 36a, 36b on the stripper assembly pass through elongated slots in the punches. These projections, by engaging the punches, return to the down position each cycle, any punches that have punched a card in the previous cycle. The elongated shape of the slots in the punches insure that no interference will occur between non-punching punches and associated strippers. This will become clear as the operation of the unit is described.

There area a plurality of electromagnetic assemblies 37a, b and each associated with a different interposer 28a, b, and c, respectively. Only one such assembly 37c is visible in FIG. 1, the others being similarly configured but located behind 370. The magnetic assemblies are secured by baseplate 70 to support wall 11. Each magnet assembly comprises a pair of pole pieces 38 and 40 which project through slots, such as 42 and 44 (FIG. 2), in the bail 24. When power is applied to a magnet assembly, the resulting field causes the associated magnetic flexible member 28 to be held in surface to surface contact with bail 24 and to thus become rigid and in line with a punch 29.

Also associated with each interposer is a second magnet 46 (FIG. 1) which may be a permanent magnet. Alternately there may be a single permanent magnet serving all interposers. The magnets are secured to support wall ll. Magnets 46 attracts the upper free end of the interposers 28 and moves the interposers a sufficient distance away from surface-to-surface contact with bail 24 to bring the ends of the interposers out of alignment with the ends of punches 29. A bridge 48, secured to bail 24 limits horizontal travel of the interposers to an amount just sufficient to clear their respective punches 29. The bridge also serves to prevent the interposers from contacting magnets 46. Therefore the interposers do not rub against the magnet as the bail and components attached thereto reciprocate in the vertical direction.

Operation of the apparatus may best be understood by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 which are enlargements of the upper portions of FIG. 1 and 2 respectively. All element numbers are consistent among the four figures. The figures are illustrated assuming punch 29c is to operate (is punching a hole in card 100) while punches 29a and 2% are to remain stationary. Drive means 12 serves to continuously reciprocate the bail 24 and the components attached thereto in the vertical direction. As the bail is moving to the full downward position, power is applied to selected ones of the magnet assemblies corresponding to punches where punching is to occur. In FIGS. 3 and 4 power is applied to magnet 370 because punch 290 is to be operated. Since the field strength of the electromagnet 37c is substantially greater than that of the permanent magnet 46, interposer 28c is attracted into surface-tosurface contact with bail 24 and becomes a relatively rigid member.

Note that as contrasted to the arrangement of the Masterson et al. patent, as discussed in the introductory portion of this application, the natural resilience of the interposer, in the absence of a magnetic field, is not being depended upon to move the interposer into position. (As a matter of fact, the end of an interposer, in the absence of any magnetic field, need not align with a punch.) Instead, what is being depended upon here, is the positive action of a magnetic field to pull the interposer into position and to hold it there. The speed with which this can be performed is a function of the strength of the magnetic field produced by an assembly 37 (really, the difference between the fixed field produced at 46 and the field at one of the assemblies 37) and the inertia [which may depend on the weight and the resilience (amount and direction)] of the interposers.

When an interposer is in surface-to-surface contact with the bail, it is in line with its associated punch. All interposers not attracted to the bail by magnet assemblies 37 are attached toward their respective permanent magnets 46 and limited in travel by the bridge 48 to an amount just sufficient to clear their respective punches. See, for example, interposer 28b as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Since the gap 51 between the interposer and punch is very small, with the bail in he extreme position, (see FIGS. 1 and 2) there will be no appreciable impact between an interposer and associated punch when the two are engaged. Since the engagement will occur very close to the bottom of the bail stroke where relatively velocity (along the vertical axis) is close to zero. Thus a gentle, smooth engagement of the interposer with punch is achieved, something very desirable in the art. As the bail continues its upward stroke, punching of a card will occur. The bail is shown in the extreme up position. From FIG. 3 is should be noted that the upper end of the bail 50 is just below a non-energized punch so as not to cause unwanted punching. Also, as seen best in FIG. 4 elongated slots in the punches are sufficiently long so that the projections 36 on stripper 35 will not cause unwanted punching.

As the bail reciprocates in the vertical direction, there is essentially no friction between the elements. Ball 24, interposers 28, stripper 35, and bridge 48 all move as one unit. Slight gaps between magnet assembly poles 38 and 40 and the interposer prevent friction at that point. Bridge 48 prevents interposers from contacting magnets 46.

As the bail completes one up-down cycle, that is, as it approaches the bottom extreme of its travel, the electromagnets are energized, as required for the next cycle. Since the interposers are not preloaded against the bail 24, they very rapidly move toward magnet assembly 46 for those positions where punching is not desired. Also since the field strength at its interposer of each electromagnet 37 is appreciably more than that of permanent magnet 46, no adjustment is required to balance these two field strengths. Wen one of the magnets 37a c, is powdered, it overcomes any tendency of the interposer to be attracted away from surface-to-surface contact with bail 24.

From the description of the operation it can be seen that the bail 24 need taken no special shape such as the curved guide members used in the prior art.

If even greater speed is desired than that obtainable with the use of a permanent magnet 46 an electromagnet 46 may be used such as shown schematically in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, a drive circuit is employed to apply power from source to only one of the magnets 37 or 46 of each interposer via electronic switch 82 for causing that interposer to be placed in the operative (punch engaging) or inoperative position.

I claim:

1. Motion transfer mechanism comprising, in combination:

an elongated, relatively flexible member;

a relatively stiff member extending in the same general direction as said flexible member and fixed at one end portion thereto to an end portion of said flexible member, said flexible member, in its natural state, being free to assume a position spaced from said stiff member at the free end thereof, and the free end of the flexible member extending only a slight distance beyond the free end of the stiff member when the flexible member is in position against the stiff member;

drive means coupled to one end of said flexible and stiff members for moving them both in the direction of the length dimension of said stiff member;

means responsive to a stimulus for placing and maintaining said flexible member in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member over substantially the entire portion of said stiff member between the region where the two members are fixed to one another and the free end of the stiff member; and

a load positioned to be engaged by the free end of said flexible member only when said flexible and stiff members are in said surface-to-surface contact.

2. Motion transfer mechanism comprising, in combination:

an elongated, relatively flexible member;

a relatively stiff member extending in the same general direction as said flexible member and fixed at one end portion thereof to an end portion of said flexible member, said flexible member, in its natural state, being free to assume a position spaced from said stiff member at the free end thereof;

drive means coupled to one end of said flexible and stiff members for moving them both in the direction of the length dimension of said stiff member;

means responsive to a stimulus for placing and maintaining said flexible member in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member;

a load positioned to be engaged by the free end of said flexible member only when said flexible and stiff members are in said surface-to-surface contact; and

means responsive to a second stimulus for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load, whereby no motion is imparted thereto in response to movement of said stiff and flexible elements.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible member is formed of magnetic material and wherein said means responsive to a stimulus comprises first electromagnetic flux producing means for attracting said member toward and holding it in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load comprises magnetic means for producing a constant magnetic flux in a direction opposite to that produced by said electromagnetic means of claim 3, and of substantially lower attracting force than the flux produced by the electromagnetic means of claim 3.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load remains stationary as said flexible member moves and wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load tends to attract said flexible member toward contact with it, a further means coupled to said stiff member for moving with said flexible member and for preventing said contact.

6. A web perforation mechanism comprising in combinatron:

an elongated relatively flexible member;

a relatively stiff member having one dimension thereof equal to a greater portion of the length dimension of said flexible member and coupled to an end portion thereof, said flexible member in its natural state being free to assume a position spaced from said stifi' member at the free end thereof; drive means coupled to one end of said flexible member to impart motion thereto in the direction of the length dimension thereof;

electromagnetic means selectively operable to render said flexible member rigid against said stifi member;

a second flux producing means tending to cause the free end of said flexible member to be attracted away from contact with said stiff member;

.a punching member in spaced relation with the web and with said free end of said flexible member whereby when said flexible member is rendered rigid, motion from said drive means will be imparted via said flexible member to said punch member for causing it to perforate said web and whereby said flexible member is attracted away from said stiff member no motion will be transmitted to said punch member as said drive means operates.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load comprises a second electromagnetic means for attracting said flexible member away from surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member and further including selectively operable means to energize said first electromagnet or said second electromagnet.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CCRRECTECN Patent No. 3,655,126 D d April 11, 1972 Inv n flx) Frank Anthony Digilio It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column 1, line 6, "every" should read ---ever---; line 18, after "depending" insert ---on---; line 54, "element" should read ---elements---; line 62, "is" should read --in-. In Column 3, line 7, after "of" insert --a---; line 7, "materials" should read ---material---; line 28, "positions" should read ---portions; line 36, "area" should read ---are---; line 51, "Magnets" (second occurrence) should read ---Magnet-. In Column 4, line 29, "he should read ---the----; line 33, "relatively" should read --relative---; line 39, "is" should read ---it---,

In Column 5, line 3, "thereto" should read ---thereof--. In Column 6, line 39, after "whereby" insert ---when---.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of November 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

E1AR1 M.FLETCI-ER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK es ing Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (0-69) USCOMM DC 60376 P69 3530 672 h u.sv covzmmzm HUNTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334 

1. Motion transfer mechanism comprising, in combination: an elongated, relatively flexible member; a relatively stiff member extending in the same general direction as said flexible member and fixed at one end portion thereto to an end portion of said flexible member, said flexible member, in its natural state, being free to assume a position spaced from said stiff member at the free end thereof, and the free end of the flexible member extending only a slight distance beyond the free end of the stiff member when the flexible member is in position against the stiff member; drive means coupled to one end of said flexible and stiff members for moving them both in the direction of the length dimension of said stiff member; means responsive to a stimulus for placing and maintaining said flexible member in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member over substantially the entire portion of said stiff member between the region where the two members are fixed to one another and the free end of the stiff member; and a load positioned to be engaged by the free end of said flexible member only when said flexible and stiff members are in said surface-to-surface contact.
 2. Motion transfer mechanism comprising, in combination: an elongated, relatively flexible member; a relatively stiff member extending in the same general direction as said flexible member and fixed at one end portion thereof to an end portion of said flexible member, said flexible member, in its natural state, being free to assume a position spaced from said stiff member at the free end thereof; drive means coupled to one end of said flexible and stiff members for moving them both in the direction of the length dimension of said stiff member; means responsive to a stimulus for placing and maintaining said flexible member in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member; a load positioned to be engaged by the free end of said flexible member only when said flexible and stiff members are in said surface-to-surface contact; and means responsive to a second stimulus for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load, whereby no motion is imparted thereto in response to movement of said stiff and flexible elements.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible member is formed Of magnetic material and wherein said means responsive to a stimulus comprises first electromagnetic flux producing means for attracting said member toward and holding it in surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load comprises magnetic means for producing a constant magnetic flux in a direction opposite to that produced by said electromagnetic means of claim 3, and of substantially lower attracting force than the flux produced by the electromagnetic means of claim
 3. 5. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load remains stationary as said flexible member moves and wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load tends to attract said flexible member toward contact with it, a further means coupled to said stiff member for moving with said flexible member and for preventing said contact.
 6. A web perforation mechanism comprising in combination: an elongated relatively flexible member; a relatively stiff member having one dimension thereof equal to a greater portion of the length dimension of said flexible member and coupled to an end portion thereof, said flexible member in its natural state being free to assume a position spaced from said stiff member at the free end thereof; drive means coupled to one end of said flexible member to impart motion thereto in the direction of the length dimension thereof; electromagnetic means selectively operable to render said flexible member rigid against said stiff member; a second flux producing means tending to cause the free end of said flexible member to be attracted away from contact with said stiff member; a punching member in spaced relation with the web and with said free end of said flexible member whereby when said flexible member is rendered rigid, motion from said drive means will be imparted via said flexible member to said punch member for causing it to perforate said web and whereby said flexible member is attracted away from said stiff member no motion will be transmitted to said punch member as said drive means operates.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said free end of said flexible member to a position out of line with said load comprises a second electromagnetic means for attracting said flexible member away from surface-to-surface contact with said stiff member and further including selectively operable means to energize said first electromagnet or said second electromagnet. 